Town Square

School budget: more local funds, less state and federal

Original post made
on Jun 15, 2013

Increased reliance on local funds and diminished state and federal funding mark the Palo Alto school district's proposed $170 million operating budget for 2013-14. The budget will be up for a vote by the Board of Education Tuesday, June 18.

Posted by Money equals priorities
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 15, 2013 at 9:32 am

Almost $5 million for the teachers, good job PAEA! Now your parent organization, CTA, can get more dollars automatically out of each paycheck. It is a beautiful cycle. Is there any connection to fewer parents choosing PAUSD? Did PAEA ask for more money in their 2013-14 openers on Tuesday?

Posted by Marie
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Jun 17, 2013 at 6:40 pm

The 13th Amendment freed the slaves - ALL slaves. Without teachers and the support staff - NOT administrative staff- you would not have the quality schools that are PAUSD. Teachers went THREE years without a raise. The "surplus" that the board and Skelly insists on keeping is a farce. Remember you get what you pay for in life.

Posted by Paul
a resident of Gunn High School
on Jun 17, 2013 at 6:47 pm

Of, course, the union asked for MORE money, silly. That is what unions do - protect the interests of their members. Look at the salaries of teachers in the neighboring districts like Los Altos and Sequoia. The make on average $3000-5000 MORE per year than PAUSD teachers. This is public information. Check it out on the web sites for these districts.

Stop being penny wise and pound foolish. It is a PUBLIC school - remember!

Posted by Not every teacher
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 17, 2013 at 7:45 pm

Step and column is paid every year, whether the teacher has had an effective year or not. We are getting less than we pay for in PAUSD and that includes teachers AND administrators. Act like a team at least and we'll act like all teachers are exactly equal and deserved a raise.

Posted by Anon
a resident of Community Center
on Jun 17, 2013 at 9:07 pm

It's one thing to dislike teachers' unions; I personally don't think they add anything to the quality of education. But it's another matter to condemn teachers over a paltry 3% percent raise and 1.5% bonus after years of no raises. With three children in this district I know firsthand that our teachers are an incredibly dedicated, skilled, and hardworking bunch. If I were one of them and I read my citizenry condemning my puny raise, it would be deeply hurtful.

We should be a bit more thankful that they endure what they do for such modest pay. Like everyone else, they see their utilities and gasoline and grocery expenses increasing at a rate greater than their pay increases. Schoolteachers know they're not signing up for a life of great pay, but we shoudn't expect that they're in for a lifetime of declining standard of living either. I'm pleased for them that an improving revenue picture gets then a small gain, and grateful that they endured what they had to while finances were bleak.

Posted by Not every teacher
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 17, 2013 at 10:33 pm

The high cost of gas angle has been played out as has its opposite that all teachers are making over $100,000. A more realistic view is that a majority of teachers are performing well and many of them are taking home $100,000 in less than 10 months of work. Some of them, and here lies the debate, are teachers you don't want for your child. Different teachers, different qualities, it can happen! Regardless, teachers do not need our pity. They are well-compensated.

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